Aurora Man Left Wallet On Gas Pump While On Motorcycle Trip In Wyoming

The Aurora resident went on vacation with his brother and grandson last July. They were on their way to Billings, Mont., when they stopped to fuel up in Casper, Wyo.

"I had an old-timers moment," McCreary said. "I left my wallet on top of the pump. I didn't realize I'd lost it until I was about 100 miles down the road."

McCreary told 7NEWS that once he realized his wallet was missing, he turned around and headed back to Casper.

Another customer at the Common Cents convenience store found the wallet.

Deborah Heinrich said she opened it to find who it belonged to and then started making phone calls.

"I left messages at his home phone after I found his number on the Internet," Heinrich said. "I called his bank and a Harley Davidson dealer listed on a business card in his wallet."

When asked if she had intended to keep the wallet, Heinrich replied, "No, not at all."

Heinrich said she even contacted police and asked them for help tracking down the owner.

Once McCreary got back to Casper, he filed a police report.

Police phoned Heinrich back and asked her for the wallet. She said she was going to hang on to it until she heard from McCreary what he wanted her to do.

She said police became aggressive and demanding, but she held firm.

"I just didn't need to be bullied," she said.

Police then arrested Heinrich, and charged her with interference.

"I said, 'Are you serious? I'm going to jail for trying to return a guy's wallet to him,'" Heinrich said.

The first attempt to prosecute her ended in a mistrial.

The judge has set a new trial date for Jan. 13.

Now the good Samaritan is asking the Wyoming judicial system to use some common sense.

"I'm a law abiding citizen," Heinrich said. "It's totally wrong for me to have any kind of record out of this."

When asked his reaction to the way the case has played out, McCreary said, "Well, I think it's a sad story. She was a good Samaritan trying to do a good deed. I think she took the wrong choice of action."

The owner said he wishes Heinrich had given the wallet to police.

He said he wasn't able to finish his vacation because he didn't have his cash or credit cards.

Heinrich said she was willing to take his wallet to him, but that police never told him that.

"I would just love to see her say, 'Hey, I'm sorry,' and them to say, 'Hey, we're sorry,' and shake hands," McCreary said.

The motorcycle rider, who had nothing but good words to say about Casper police and their efforts to help him, said he questioned some of the other decisions that were made, by the good Samaritan and by prosecutors.

The Aurora resident noted that he has to travel back to Natrona County, at Wyoming taxpayers' expense, to testify in Heinrich's January trial.

"She's going to live in that community and they're going to have to deal with elections coming up as to how the people feel about how their money was spent," he said.

McCreary adds that he understands both sides, but when asked if he thinks the case should be dropped, he said, "Oh absolutely."

Heinrich faces a possible sentence of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine if convicted of interference.